Leap Academy with Ilana Golan

We’re bringing back one of our favorite conversations from the Leap Academy podcast with digital marketing expert and entrepreneur Neil Patel. Neil’s story shows how hard work, persistence, and learning from failure lead to success. As a teenager, he started businesses, including building websites, but struggled with ineffective marketing agencies. This pushed him to learn digital marketing, and by 16, he helped a client make $20M, marking the start of his career. After facing challenges with his earlier ventures, he shifted from starting businesses to acquiring and turning underperforming ones into successes. Now, as the founder of NP Digital, he runs a global marketing company that helps businesses grow. In this episode, Neil talks with Ilana about his journey, the strategies behind his success, and how businesses can overcome challenges and scale in today’s competitive market. Neil Patel is a New York Times bestselling author, digital marketing expert, and the founder of one of the top 100 most brilliant companies, according to Entrepreneur Magazine. With over 15 years of experience, Neil has been instrumental in helping businesses grow their online presence and revenue. In this episode, Ilana and Neil will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:11) The Power of Hard Work Over Privilege (01:39) From Teenage Hustle to Launching His First Website (08:01) Learning Digital Marketing After Agency Failures (08:55) Helping a Client Reach $20M in Revenue at Age 16 (10:17) Attending College Due to Family Expectations (11:55) How Experimentation Reveals Your True Strengths (14:26) Lessons from Surviving Legal Battles at Kissmetrics (19:53) Businesses That Found Success Despite Their Flaws (22:35) Balancing Personal and Corporate Branding for Success (25:24) Shifting from Building to Acquiring Businesses (27:10) Neil’s Strategy for Improving Acquired Businesses (31:15) Why “Renting Your Dreams” Can Lead to Future Success (33:29) How Consistency and Networking Create Opportunities (35:48) Empowering and Trusting Your Team for Results (37:44) Hiring Experts to Reduce Risk and Drive Growth (40:57) Neil Patel's Digital Marketing Services Neil Patel is a New York Times bestselling author, digital marketing expert, and the founder of one of the top 100 most brilliant companies, according to Entrepreneur Magazine. Recognized as a top influencer by The Wall Street Journal and one of Forbes' top marketers, Neil has helped companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google grow through marketing. He is also the co-founder of NP Digital, a leading marketing agency. With over 15 years of experience, Neil has been instrumental in helping businesses grow their online presence and revenue. Connect with Neil: Neil’s Website: https://neilpatel.com/ Neil’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilkpatel/ Neil’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/neilpatel Resources Mentioned: NP Digital: https://npdigital.com/ Neil’s Book, Hustle: The Power to Charge Your Life with Money, Meaning, and Momentum: https://www.amazon.com/Hustle-Power-Charge-Meaning-Momentum/dp/1623367166 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Mike Fisher’s career has taken him from West Point and flying helicopters in the U.S. Army to leading technology teams at PayPal, serving as CTO of Etsy, and ultimately becoming CEO of MyFitnessPal. In this episode, Mike joins Ilana to unpack the leadership lessons behind that unconventional journey. He shares what the military taught him about giving feedback, building trust, and learning from mistakes, and what he had to unlearn when he transitioned into the tech world. Mike also explains why nearly every major opportunity in his career came through the “hidden market,” why professionals should focus on building skills rather than chasing titles, and what stepping into the CEO seat taught him about imposter syndrome and leading through uncertainty. Plus, Mike shares what ultramarathons have taught him about pushing through dark moments, why great leaders need extraordinary willpower, and why he believes AI could ultimately create entirely new opportunities for entrepreneurs and professionals. Chapters 00:00 Trailer & Introduction 02:58 The Hidden Market: Why Your Best Opportunities Aren’t on Job Boards 04:05 What West Point Taught Mike About Leadership 06:57 Why Great Teams Debrief Their Mistakes 08:12 Learning Leadership the Hard Way as an Army Pilot 10:19 The Helicopter Accident That Changed How Mike Led 14:27 Leaving the Military for a Career in Tech 16:01 The Boss Who Changed the Trajectory of Mike’s Career 19:13 What Mike Had to Unlearn From the Military 20:58 How to Get People to Follow You Without a Title 22:56 Why Great Leaders Tell Great Stories 25:58 The Hidden Job Market & Why Your Network Matters 28:18 Why Weak Ties Can Lead to Your Biggest Opportunities 28:46 How to Make Sure People Remember You 29:04 From Consultant to CTO of Etsy 31:04 The Power of Extreme Focus 35:30 Stop Chasing Titles, Build Skills Instead 37:04 How the Hidden Market Led Mike to MyFitnessPal 38:33 Becoming CEO: What Changes at the Top 41:30 Imposter Syndrome at the CEO Level 44:56 Find the Skill You Can Always Fall Back On 45:27 What Ultramarathons Teach You About Leadership 47:51 “We Do Hard Things”: Transforming Etsy 50:27 Finding Your Reserve Tank in the Darkest Moments 53:09 Why You Should Never Go Through Hard Things Alone 53:28 “You Signed Up for This” 55:06 How to Rise Above the Noise in Your Career 56:08 Why Rejection Should Be Treated Like an Experiment 57:55 Mike’s Take on AI, Jobs & the Future of Work 59:58 Could a One Person Billion Dollar Company Already Exist? About Mike Fisher Mike Fisher is the CEO of MyFitnessPal and a technology executive whose career spans the military, entrepreneurship, consulting, and some of the most recognized technology companies in the world. A West Point graduate, Mike served as a U.S. Army aviation officer and helicopter pilot before transitioning into technology. His career has included leadership roles at PayPal, co-founding AKF Partners, and serving as CTO of Etsy, where he helped lead major technology and organizational transformations. Outside of work, Mike is an ultramarathoner and writes about leadership, technology, and business through his Substack, Fish Food for Thought. 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Tom Cortese helped turn an idea that investors rejected hundreds of times into Peloton—an $8.1 billion public company that completely changed the way millions of people exercise. But his story isn’t just about building Peloton. It’s also about knowing when to walk away from something that has become part of your identity and having the courage to start again.In this episode, Tom joins Ilana to share the real story behind Peloton—from starting the company with just $400,000 and getting rejected by investors to selling the first bikes, building an incredibly loyal community, and eventually taking the company public. Tom also opens up about the difficult decision to leave Peloton, why he realized he was the one who needed to go, and what it took to separate himself from a company that had been intertwined with nearly every part of his life. Now, he’s starting over—this time partnering with Chipotle founder Steve Ells to rethink fast food with Counter Service. Tom shares why leaving Peloton made this next chapter possible and what building something from scratch all over again has taught him about success, failure, identity, and reinvention. Chapters 00:00 From 400+ No’s to an $8.1 Billion Company 01:45 What Philosophy Taught Tom About Building Community 05:50 Why Your Career Doesn't Need to Follow a Straight Line 09:40 The Hidden Market: How Relationships Create Opportunities 12:00 The Opportunity That Turned Tom Into a Product Manager 15:05 Proust: Building a Great Product That Wasn’t a Great Business 18:49 How Tom Handled His First Startup Failure 21:58 The Night John Foley Pitched Him Peloton 25:53 Turning Boutique Fitness Into a Subscription Business 27:21 Starting Peloton With an Idea That Seemed Impossible 29:51 What Exactly Is Peloton? 31:19 Building Hardware, Software, Content & Community at Once 33:39 Start With the Customer Experience 36:20 When SoulCycle Banned the Peloton Founders 37:16 How Peloton Started With Just $400,000 39:40 Raising $5 Million After Investors Said No 43:33 How Tom Kept Going Through Rejection 45:41 Turning the Vision Into Something Investors Could Believe In 47:41 Building Peloton’s First Bike in Taiwan 50:50 Selling the First Bikes Through Kickstarter 52:45 How Peloton’s Community Took on a Life of Its Own 53:15 From 5,000 Bikes to an $8.1 Billion IPO 54:43 The Community That Changed Peloton 58:24 The Hardest Decision: Knowing It Was Time to Leave 1:02:20 “The Odd Man Out Was Me” 1:05:47 Separating His Identity From Peloton 1:08:35 Starting Over With Chipotle Founder Steve Ells 1:11:13 Why Tom Jumped Into the Fast Food Industry 1:13:21 The Problem Counter Service Is Trying to Solve 1:20:08 Why Leaving Peloton Made This Next Chapter Possible 1:23:51 What to Expect From Counter Service 1:27:29 Success, Failure & How Other People Tell Your Story 1:31:20 Dealing With the “Rise and Fall of Peloton” Narrative 1:33:28 What Tom Would Tell His Younger Self 1:35:02 What’s Next for Counter ServiceAbout Tom Cortese ABOUT TOM Tom Cortese is the co-founder of Peloton and CEO of Counter Service. Tom helped build Peloton from its earliest days, developing the product and experience that combined hardware, software, content, and community into a new category of connected fitness. The company grew from an initial $400,000 investment to a public company valued at more than $8 billion at its IPO. After stepping away from Peloton, Tom began exploring what his next chapter could look like. That journey ultimately connected him with Chipotle founder Steve Ells, and today the two are building Counter Service, a technology-driven restaurant concept focused on bringing better food, smarter operations, and a new approach to fast service. LEAP ACADEMY Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.Check out Ilana’s free Leap Academy training: leapacademy.com/training 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Sir Richard Harpin put £50,000 of his life savings into a business that nearly collapsed—twice. That company eventually became HomeServe, serving millions of customers globally before being sold for more than £4 billion. In this episode, Richard joins Ilana to share the lessons behind that extraordinary journey, from finding the business model that saved HomeServe with his final £10,000 to learning how to scale internationally, hire leaders better than himself, and stay focused when entrepreneurs are naturally drawn to the next big idea. Richard also shares lessons from his book, How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps, including why copying a proven model can be smarter than inventing something new, why every entrepreneur needs a “not-to-do” list, and the two mistakes he sees holding ambitious founders back. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:30 From £50K to a £4 Billion Exit 03:49 Richard’s First Business at Age Five 05:47 What Working at Procter & Gamble Taught Him 07:40 The Problem That Inspired HomeServe 08:37 Losing His Life Savings & Nearly Going Broke 10:12 Why Richard Refused to Give Up 11:19 Finding an Investor When the Business Was Struggling 12:40 The Final £10K That Changed Everything 15:14 Perseverance vs. Knowing When to Quit 16:26 Hiring His Replacement to Scale the Business 17:24 Taking HomeServe International 20:08 Evolution, Not Revolution 23:06 Why Direct Mail Still Works 24:59 Why You Need a “Not-to-Do” List 26:08 How Founders Can Avoid Shiny Object Syndrome 27:46 How Far Is Too Far From Your Core Business? 29:29 Scaling HomeServe Into a Global Business 32:14 Knighthood & Helping the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs 35:10 The Nine Steps Richard Wishes He Knew Earlier 37:42 Why Entrepreneurs Need Both a Coach and a Mentor 39:30 Stop Fixing Your Weaknesses—Build Around Your Strengths 40:52 What Holds High Achievers Back 42:52 Why Founders Need the Courage to Hire Expensive Talent 44:08 When to Bring in an Investor 45:44 You Don’t Need an Original Business Idea 46:26 Why Buying a Business May Be Smarter Than Starting One 47:35 Did Richard Ever Buy the Helicopter? About Sir Richard Harpin Sir Richard Harpin is the co-founder of HomeServe, the international home repairs and improvements business he helped grow from a struggling startup into a global company serving millions of customers. HomeServe was ultimately acquired in a deal valuing the company at more than £4 billion. Today, Richard focuses on helping the next generation of entrepreneurs build and scale successful businesses. He is also the author of How to Make a Billion in Nine Steps, where he shares the lessons he wishes he had known at the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

At 18 years old, Shawn Nelson had a crazy idea: build a beanbag so massive it could fill an entire room. That idea eventually became Lovesac, a publicly traded furniture company and major consumer brand. In this episode, Shawn joins Ilana to share the real journey behind building Lovesac, from taking risks and learning as he went to winning Richard Branson’s The Rebel Billionaire and leading a company at scale. They also dive into what failure teaches us, why success never means you’ve “arrived,” how Shawn gets through the hardest days, and why his philosophy is to maintain top ambition with infinite patience. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 04:06 – The Idea That Started Lovesac 07:10 – Stop Talking and Start Doing 13:24 – Big Vision, Flexible Execution 17:57 – Risk, Debt & the Fear of Failure 22:36 – Winning Richard Branson’s The Rebel Billionaire 29:11 – Lessons From Richard Branson & Virgin 32:07 – Why You Never Really “Arrive” 40:38 – What Failure Teaches You About Success 43:56 – Taking Lovesac Public & Leading at Scale 50:35 – How Shawn Gets Through the Hard Days 54:16 – The Reality of Entrepreneurship 56:24 – Building Your Career Safety Net & Personal Brand 1:00:59 – Lessons Shawn Wishes He Knew Earlier 1:03:27 – Top Ambition, Infinite Patience 1:05:30 – Redefining What Success Really Means 1:07:58 – Finding Your Personal “Why” 1:09:03 – The Truth Behind the Highlight Reel About Shawn Nelson Shawn Nelson is the founder and CEO of Lovesac, the publicly traded furniture company he started at just 18 years old. He is an entrepreneur, inventor, and winner of Richard Branson’s The Rebel Billionaire. Shawn is also the author of Let Me Save You 25 Years: Mistakes, Miracles, and Lessons from the Lovesac Story, where he shares lessons from more than two decades of building, nearly losing, and ultimately growing Lovesac into the brand it is today. Connect with Shawn Lovesac: Lovesac.com Book & Podcast: Let Me Save You 25 Years Social: @ShawnOfLovesac Leap Academy Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a new way for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap into bigger opportunities. Get started with Ilana’s free career training at leapacademy.com/training. 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Manu Sai Bakshi arrived in New York with $2,500, a new wife, and a degree that wasn’t recognized in the U.S. Within weeks, he was applying for a job at Macy’s in Herald Square. That humbling beginning eventually led Manu into the hedge fund world, where he spent nearly a decade learning how the industry identifies and hires elite talent before launching Preeminence Advisors during COVID. In this episode, Manu joins Ilana to break down what separates great portfolio managers from mediocre ones, why reputation matters more than a quick fee, and how taking the harder path can become your greatest competitive advantage. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 04:38 – What Is a Hedge Fund? Breaking It Down Simply 07:26 – From IBM to Macy’s: Manu’s First Days in New York 11:13 – The Differentiator: Cold Calling When No One Else Would 14:52 – Almost Fired—and Already Planning His Own Firm 18:24 – The Moment That Proved He Could Place Portfolio Managers 22:32 – What Makes a Great Portfolio Manager 25:17 – Why Reputation Is Everything 33:26 – Launching His Own Firm During COVID 37:22 – Building the First Client: Knock Their Socks Off 42:21 – How People Actually Become Portfolio Managers 46:40 – Manu’s Favorite Interview Questions and Red Flags 48:48 – The Biggest Hiring Mistakes Hedge Funds Make 53:47 – Q&A: How Do You Keep Going When You Feel Defeated? About Manu Sai Bakshi Manu Sai Bakshi is the Founder and CEO of Preeminence Advisors, a boutique search firm specializing in placing elite portfolio managers at multibillion-dollar hedge funds. After immigrating from India, Manu built his career from the ground up before spending nearly a decade leading recruiting inside a systematic hedge fund. Today, he works with senior hedge fund leaders as both a recruiter and strategic talent advisor. Leap Academy Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a new way for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap into bigger opportunities. Get started with Ilana’s free career training at leapacademy.com/training. Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Ilana Golan knows what it feels like to lose everything. After climbing from the Air Force to Intel to VP in a Silicon Valley startup, she thought she had made it. But when a trusted co-founder cut her out of their new business overnight, she was left with nothing. No job, no company, no income, and a shattered ego. That collapse became the turning point, forcing Ilana to ask who she was without the titles and what kind of life she truly wanted to build. In this episode, Ilana breaks down the five shifts you need to reinvent your career and the blueprint she used to bounce back from failure, build one of the fastest-growing startups, and land opportunities with leaders like Richard Branson and GaryVee. Ilana Golan is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, investor, and host of the LEAP Academy podcast. As the founder of LEAP Academy, she teaches professionals how to fast-track opportunities, build portfolio careers, and unlock financial freedom. In this episode, Ilana discusses: (00:00) Introduction (01:11) The Startup Collapse That Changed Everything (04:24) Losing Her Identity and Rebuilding From Scratch (06:22) Launching LEAP Academy and Reaching Startup of the Year (09:10) Reinvention as the Must-Have Skill of Our Era (10:09) The Power of Adaptability: IQ vs. EQ vs. AQ (11:29) The Five Shifts to Fast-Track Your Career (18:30) Commanding Authority: The Three Types of Branding (23:17) Creating a Portfolio Career for Freedom and Wealth Ilana Golan is a serial entrepreneur, board director, global keynote speaker, and investor in over 100 companies. As the founder of Leap Academy, she teaches professionals how to fast-track opportunities, build portfolio careers, and unlock financial freedom. Ilana has been recognized as a Silicon Valley Woman of Influence, a Top 40 Woman to Watch, and a CEO World Award winner. Under her leadership, LEAP Academy was named one of Inc. 500’s Fastest Growing Companies. Connect with Ilana: Ilana’s Website: leapacademy.com Ilana’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan Ilana’s Email: info@leapacademy.com Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Join us for our free challenge August 11- 13th! https://workshops.leapacademy.com/challenge Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Christina Tosi didn’t have a clear five-year plan when she graduated from college. She tried different majors, worked odd jobs, and kept searching for the thing that felt like hers. Baking became the answer she could not ignore. With relentless persistence, she went from a hostess stand to New York restaurant kitchens, proving herself one dessert at a time. That same drive eventually turned a tiny laundromat space into Milk Bar, the dessert empire known for bold flavors, nostalgic treats, and joyful care packages shipped across the country. In this episode, Christina joins Ilana to share how experimentation leads to clarity, why failure is essential to mastery, and what it really takes to build a business rooted in creativity, community, and joy. Christina Tosi is the founder and CEO of Milk Bar, the iconic dessert brand known for its bold, nostalgic treats like the Compost Cookie and cereal milk soft serve. She is a two-time James Beard Award winner and New York Times bestselling author. In this episode, Ilana and Christina will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (05:53) How Childhood Baking Sparked a Career (10:04) Testing Different Paths Until One Felt Right (17:56) The Embarrassing Failure That Fueled Her (22:04) Finding Mentors and Moving to New York (28:10) The Simple Networking Move That Opened Doors (31:17) The Cookie That Put Milk Bar on the Map (38:00) Turning Failure Into Fuel for Growth (45:04) Building Milk Bar in a Tiny Laundromat (49:47) Pushing Through Criticism, Burnout, and COVID (1:03:10) The Shift from Pastry Chef to CEO (1:08:11) Why Discomfort Can Become Your Edge (1:16:43) Betting on Yourself Before You Feel Ready Christina Tosi is the founder and CEO of Milk Bar, a nationally beloved dessert brand with locations across the U.S. She is a two-time James Beard Award winner, TED speaker, and New York Times bestselling author of seven cookbooks. Christina also created Bake Club, a free online baking community launched during COVID that continues to bring bakers together around the world. Connect with Christina: Website: christinatosi.com/ Christina’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christina-tosi Christina’s Instagram: instagram.com/christinatosi/ Christina’s YouTube: youtube.com/christinatosi Resources Mentioned:Bake Club: bakeclub.com/ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

What does it really take to solve impossible problems? In this episode of Leap Academy with Ilana Golan, Ilana sits down with Astro Teller, CEO of Google X (Alphabet's Moonshot Factory), to uncover the mindset, leadership principles, and innovation frameworks behind some of the world's most groundbreaking technologies—including Waymo, Wing, and Google Brain. Astro shares why the biggest breakthroughs begin with embracing failure, how Google X celebrates shutting down projects that aren't working, and why successful innovators focus on solving the hardest problem first instead of chasing easy wins. From reinventing careers to building billion-dollar ideas, this conversation is packed with practical lessons on taking smarter risks, overcoming fear, and creating a process that leads to extraordinary results. Whether you're an entrepreneur, leader, or simply looking to future-proof your career, this episode will challenge the way you think about success, innovation, and what's possible. 00:00 Introduction 03:30 Meet Astro Teller & the Mission Behind Google X 05:15 How Astro Became CEO of Google's Moonshot Factory 07:30 What Makes a True Moonshot? 10:25 Why Google X Celebrates Failure 15:40 Rethinking Risk: Reward vs. Risk Ratio 19:10 The Reality of Building Breakthrough Innovation 21:45 How Waymo Went from Impossible to Reality 26:45 Wing: Reinventing Delivery with Autonomous Drones 29:20 The "Monkey vs. Pedestal" Framework 34:45 Building a Moonshot Mindset 39:00 The Origins of Google Brain & Today's AI Revolution 43:10 The Future of AI, Recycling & Manufacturing 45:15 Advice for Anyone Reinventing Their Career 47:20 Astro's Personal Journey & Lessons from Failure 52:10 Becoming a Ferocious Learner 54:25 Why Great Innovation Is Built by Teams 56:01 Final Thoughts Dr. Astro Teller is the CEO of Google X, Alphabet's Moonshot Factory, where he leads teams creating breakthrough technologies designed to solve some of humanity's biggest challenges. Since joining Google, Astro has helped launch world-changing innovations including Waymo, Wing, Google Brain, and Tapestry, while developing Google's unique approach to moonshot thinking and breakthrough innovation. Before Google, Astro was a successful entrepreneur, scientist, inventor, Stanford faculty member, and author. Today, he is recognized as one of the world's foremost voices on innovation, leadership, and the future of technology. Connect with Astro Google X (Alphabet's Moonshot Factory)https://x.company Astro Teller – Google X Profilehttps://x.company/astro-teller Astro Teller on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/astroteller LEAP ACADEMY Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

At 16, his grandmother fled Kraków after the Nazis killed her father, worked a New York factory floor beside her mother, and applied to every medical school in the state three years running before one finally said yes — then told her second-grade grandson that education is the only thing nobody can ever take away from him.Years later, David Rogier quit his venture capital job with no idea what he wanted to build, and his boss wrote him a check for $500,000 and told him to go think of something; the dark, formless year that followed became MasterClass, whose holding company still carries his grandmother's nickname. Launch day brought so few sales that he went home and cried, and by day four it was obvious he had a real business on his hands. In this conversation, David breaks down how he got Hollywood's biggest names to say yes, why he believes degrees and résumés are quickly becoming worthless, and the three kinds of jobs he thinks will actually survive AI. David Rogier is the founder and CEO of MasterClass, the platform that put instruction from Martin Scorsese, Christina Aguilera, Steph Curry, and dozens of other world-class practitioners into the hands of millions of learners. He built it from a single $500,000 check and has since launched MasterClass Executive, an AI-native alternative to the traditional MBA created in collaboration with OpenAI and the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. IN THIS EPISODE, ILANA AND DAVID WILL DISCUSS: (00:00) Introduction (01:34) The Grandmother Who Survived Kraków and Became a Doctor (05:39) Stuttering, Teasing, and Parents Who Raised the Bar (07:15) Quitting His Job and Getting Handed a $500,000 Check (08:48) The Dark Year: What Happens When You Have No Constraints (12:58) The Three Things That Had to Be True for MasterClass to Work (14:33) The Lost Art of Opening Doors and Influencing People (19:46) Launch Day: No Calls, Almost No Sales, and a Lot of Tears (21:18) What Scorsese, Steph Curry, and Christina Aguilera Do Differently (23:53) Why “Hire Great People and Get Out of Their Way” Is Terrible Advice (27:28) The AI Study That Compressed 18 Months of School Into 18 Hours (34:16) The Skills That Matter Now: Learning Velocity, Execution, People (39:28) The Three Types of Jobs That Survive AI (44:39) Burning the Corporate Ladder: Rebuilding the MBA for $2,500(49:16) What He'd Tell His Younger Self (51:52) Q&A: My Network Feels Crowded — How Do I Get Real Introductions? CONNECT WITH DAVID ROGIER David's Company Website: https://www.masterclass.com David's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drogier/ RESOURCES MENTIONED MasterClass: https://www.masterclass.com Chris Voss's MasterClass on Negotiation: https://www.masterclass.com/classes/chris-voss-teaches-the-art-of-negotiation LEAP Episode with Chris Voss: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leap-academy-with-ilana-golan/id1701718200?i=1000673141824 LEAP Episode with Tom Bilyeu: Tom Bilyeu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ4EGDsKudk LEAP ACADEMY Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Revisiting one of our most-downloaded episodes, Tom Bilyeu shares his powerful journey from self-doubt to self-mastery. His early years were shaped by fear of failure, a lack of direction, and doubts from those around him. After struggling to break into the film industry, he joined a startup with the goal of getting rich, but found himself unhappy and in a strained marriage. Taking a leap of faith, Tom walked away from millions to pursue something more meaningful. This gave rise to Quest Nutrition, a billion-dollar company creating nutritious, great-tasting products. Yet, for Tom, wealth was never the endgame. He launched Impact Theory, a media company designed to impact lives positively. In this episode, Tom shares with Ilana the key moments that shaped his career, the philosophies that drive him, and how he defines true success. Tom Bilyeu is a billion-dollar entrepreneur, motivational speaker, co-founder of Quest Nutrition, and founder of Impact Theory. Through his content, he inspires millions by sharing tips on overcoming self-doubt, developing the right mindset, and building resilience for success. In this episode, Ilana and Tom discuss: (01:15) Introduction(01:43) Facing Doubts and Rejection(04:21) How Neuroscience Changed His Mindset(06:28) Why People Struggle to Make Progress(07:59) Learning the Power of Discipline in Film School(12:46) Tom’s Guide to Finding Your Next Step(15:25) Walking Away from $2 Million to Save His Marriage(17:14) Building Quest Nutrition with the Right Team(22:00) Why Tom Launched Quest Nutrition(24:37) The Key to Surviving Entrepreneurship(26:19) Strategies for Thriving in Competitive Markets(30:20) Solving What Others Say Can't Be Done(31:16) Conquering Fear Through Hard Work(36:20) The Journey from Quest to Impact Theory(40:15) Using Entertainment to Inspire Young Minds(45:24) Lessons from Childhood that Built Tom’s Resilience(48:06) Two Beliefs to Unlock Your Potential(49:44) Letting Go of Ego to Grow Connect with Tom: Tom’s Website: https://tombilyeu.comTom’s YouTube: youtube.com/c/TomBilyeuTom’s Twitch: www.twitch.tv/tombilyeu Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to advance their careers and make 5–6 figures of extra income in record time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

In one of our most popular episodes, Amy Porterfield had a dream job working with Tony Robbins, one of the world’s top motivational speakers and business strategists. But deep down, she wanted to be her own boss. During a high-level meeting, she realized she was on the wrong side of the table, watching entrepreneurs build wealth instead of becoming one. With no plan, no clients, and no backup, she left corporate life and built a $100 million online business. In this episode, Amy joins Ilana to share how she overcame imposter syndrome, depression, and anxiety to create a balanced life and the mindset shift that took her from employee to multimillion-dollar entrepreneur. Amy Porterfield is an online marketing expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. She has helped thousands of people break free from traditional 9-to-5 jobs and create financial freedom through entrepreneurship. In this episode, Ilana and Amy will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:44) Entrepreneurial Lessons from Childhood (03:35) Landing a Dream Job with Tony Robbins (07:46) The Three Biggest Lessons from Working with Tony (11:51) The Moment That Made Her Quit Corporate (14:48) Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Depression (21:24) Finding Strength in Support Systems (24:24) How to Transition from Employee to Entrepreneur (27:32) Navigating the First Two Years in Business (29:21) Redefining Success to Avoid Burnout (35:20) Handling Hate and Criticism Online (38:19) Shifting Your Money Mindset to Scale Faster (43:35) Creating and Selling Profitable Digital Courses (46:05) Why Mistakes Are the Key to Growth Amy Porterfield is an online marketing expert, entrepreneur, and bestselling author. She runs a $100 million company teaching entrepreneurs how to create, market, and sell profitable digital courses. As the host of the Online Marketing Made Easy podcast and bestselling author of Two Weeks Notice, she has helped thousands of people break free from traditional 9-to-5 jobs and create financial freedom through entrepreneurship. Connect with Amy: Amy’s Website: amyporterfield.com Amy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/amyporterfield Resources Mentioned: Amy’s Book, Two Weeks Notice: Find the Courage to Quit Your Job, Make More Money, Work Where You Want, and Change the World: https://www.amazon.com/Two-Weeks-Notice-Courage-Change/dp/1401969879 The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins: https://www.amazon.com/Let-Them-Theory-Life-Changing-Millions/dp/1401971369 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at leapacademy.com/training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

On our most replayed episode, Gary ‘Vee’ Vaynerchuk talks about how being scrappy wasn’t just a choice for him; it was his only way forward. After years of growing his family’s wine business, he was left with nothing of his own. With no money to rent an office or hire employees, Gary leveraged his grit, relationships, and opportunities to launch VaynerMedia. Overcoming the financial, mental, and emotional hurdles of entrepreneurship, he built his company into a multi-million-dollar media empire. In this episode, Gary joins Ilana to reveal the mindset and strategies you need to overcome obstacles and build your own multi-million-dollar business. Gary Vaynerchuk, famously known as GaryVee, is a serial entrepreneur, chairman of VaynerX, CEO of VaynerMedia and VeeFriends, and a six-time New York Times bestselling author. Recognized as one of the most forward-thinking minds in business, culture, and the internet, Gary helps brands stay ahead by spotting trends early. In this episode, Ilana and Gary will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:40) VaynerMedia's Scrappy Beginnings (06:56) Why Businesses Fail Financially (10:01) Navigating Tough Business Days (17:21) The Risk of Over-Transparency in Leadership (19:44) Dealing with Failure and Public Ridicule (22:10) GaryVee’s Dream of Owning the New York Jets (26:06) The Role of DNA and Accountability in Success (28:35) Finding Joy in Entrepreneurship (31:02) How to Build a Personal Brand as an Employee (32:30) Empowering Employees with Honest Feedback (34:27) Embracing Change and Executing Relentlessly Gary Vaynerchuk, famously known as GaryVee, is a serial entrepreneur, chairman of VaynerX, CEO of VaynerMedia and VeeFriends, and a six-time New York Times bestselling author. He is a prolific angel investor with early investments in companies like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Venmo, Snapchat, Coinbase, and Uber. Recognized as one of the most forward-thinking minds in business, culture, and the internet, Gary helps brands stay ahead by spotting trends early. Connect with Gary: Gary’s Website: ⁠garyvaynerchuk.com⁠ Gary’s LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/garyvaynerchuk⁠ Resources Mentioned: Gary’s Book, Day Trading Attention: How to Actually Build Brand and Sales in the New Social Media World: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Day-Trading-Attention-Actually-Social/dp/0063317591⁠ GaryVee: From Earning $2 an Hour to Running a $350M Digital Empire: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/garyvee-from-earning-%242-an-hour-to-running-a/id1701718200?i=1000689595539⁠ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW way for professionals to Advance Their Careers & Make 5-6 figures of EXTRA INCOME in Record Time. Check out our free training today at⁠ leapacademy.com/training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

As a kid struggling with ADHD and financial instability, David watched his family nearly lose their home before taking a door-to-door sales job as a broke college student. He was terrible at it at first, but instead of quitting, he became obsessed with learning sales, systems, and business psychology. That mindset helped him build and sell four companies, scale across 5,000 cities in 34 states, and turn one of the world’s most overlooked industries into a $500 million empire. In this episode, David joins Ilana to share the sales lessons, leadership principles, and mindset shifts that helped him build through rejection, near-bankruptcy moments, and why some of the biggest opportunities today are hiding inside “boring” businesses. David Royce is the chairman of AP Environmental, one of North America's largest residential pest control companies. Starting from door-to-door sales as a college student, he built and sold four companies, reaching over 5,000 cities across 34 states and a $500M valuation at exit. In this episode, Ilana and David will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (04:58) The “Problem Kid” Who Built a $500M Business (13:22) Sales Skills Every Entrepreneur Needs (17:06) Taking the Leap to Build His Own Business (21:17) Surviving the Early Business Chaos (29:02) Biggest Lessons from Tony Hsieh (33:52) How Scaling Exposes Every Weakness (37:45) The Failure That Forced David to Evolve (41:39) How Bankruptcy Changed His Definition of Success (45:34) “Boring” Businesses That Build Real Wealth (54:37) The Power of Risks in Creating Bigger Lives David Royce is a four-time exit founder and chairman of AP Environmental, one of North America's largest residential pest control companies. Starting from door-to-door sales, he built and sold four companies over the course of his career. His third company sold for a reported $135M, and his fourth, AP Environmental, reached a reported $500M valuation at exit, operating in over 5,000 cities across 34 states. Connect with David: David’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-royce-22539425 Aptive Website: aptivepestcontrol.com/ Resources Mentioned: Delivering Happiness - A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose by Tony Hsieh: https://www.amazon.in/dp/145550890X. Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Mark Tluszcz had the career most people would chase: a top consulting job, rapid success, and a clear path forward. But eight years in, he made a move very few would dare to make. He left his high-paying job to start his own firm, faced hundreds of rejections while raising capital, and built Mangrove Capital from scratch. That same contrarian mindset led him to back companies others overlooked, becoming an early investor in Skype and later Chairman of Wix. In this episode, Mark joins Ilana to share how he invested early in Skype, spotted Wix before it became a global company, and why he turned down a $400 million acquisition offer. He also breaks down how to build conviction, embrace rejection, and find opportunities where others see risk. Mark Tluszcz is the co-founder and CEO of Mangrove Capital Partners and chairman of Wix, one of the world's leading website-building platforms. He is widely regarded as one of Europe's most influential venture capitalists, known for his early investments in Skype and Wix. In this episode, Ilana and Mark will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (05:36) Growing Up Across Multiple Cultures (09:09) Leaving Corporate Consulting to Build His Own Firm (13:58) Building Mangrove Capital During the Internet Boom (20:54) How to Keep Going After Hundreds of Nos (27:25) How Skype Evolved Beyond Music (36:47) Staying Humble After a Massive Win (43:08) Discovering Wix and Rethinking Venture Capital (50:33) Turning Down a $400M Deal: The Wix Story (57:41) Building Resilience Through Honest Conversations (01:01:14) Spotting the Next Wave of AI Opportunity (01:10:57) The Founder Mindset That Actually Lasts Mark Tluszcz is the co-founder and CEO of Mangrove Capital Partners, a Luxembourg-based venture capital firm he built from the ground up after leaving Arthur Andersen in 2000. He was one of the first investors in Skype, where Mangrove’s $2 million investment reportedly returned $200 million, and he has served as chairman of Wix, where an $8 million investment reportedly yielded $700 million. Connect with Mark: X: x.com/marktluszcz Mark’s Instagram: instagram.com/marktluszcz/ Mark’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mark-tluszcz-a024b51 Mark’s Blog: https://www.daretodreambeyond.com/ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

John Paul DeJoria grew up with no connections, no money, and no roadmap. He sold encyclopedias door-to-door despite constant rejection, got fired from three consecutive jobs, and lived out of his car while raising his young son. Then, with just $700, he launched John Paul Mitchell Systems and built it into a billion-dollar haircare company. That same relentless spirit later helped him turn Patrón Tequila into one of the most recognized spirit brands in the world. In this episode, John Paul joins Ilana to share what it truly takes to build something from nothing, why rejection is just redirection, and why success unshared is failure. John Paul DeJoria is a self-made billionaire, entrepreneur, and the visionary co-founder behind John Paul Mitchell Systems and Patrón Tequila. Beyond his iconic business achievements, he is a passionate philanthropist dedicated to creating a positive global impact. In this episode, Ilana and John Paul will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:40) Growing Up in Foster Care as an Immigrant Kid (11:20) The Navy Lessons That Shaped His Leadership (15:23) Making It Through Sudden Homelessness (23:23) How Getting Fired Led Him to Start Paul Mitchell (28:22) How He Made Billions With Only $700 (40:50) Letting Go of Fear, Failure, and Yesterday’s Mistakes (46:14) Growing Patrón Against the Odds (53:30) What Meeting Gaddafi Taught Him About Kindness (56:57) The New AI Platform That’s Making Entrepreneurship Easier (01:00:15) Why Happiness, Health, and Family Matter Most John Paul DeJoria is a self-made billionaire, philanthropist, and co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems, the world’s largest privately owned salon haircare brand. He also co-founded The Patrón Spirits Company, growing it from zero distribution to over 3.5 million cases annually before its landmark sale. His upcoming memoir, Success Unshared Is Failure, details his extraordinary journey and his conviction that giving back is essential. Connect with John Paul: John Paul’s Website: peacelovehappinessfoundation.org John Paul Mitchell Systems: https://www.paulmitchell.com Resources Mentioned: John Paul’s Book, Success Unshared is Failure: https://www.amazon.com/Success-Unshared-Failure-John-DeJoria/dp/B0FSTBMCJ8 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Despite his high intelligence, George Barrios nearly flunked out of both high school and college, drifting without discipline or direction. Realizing talent alone wouldn’t build the future he wanted, he cleaned up his act, became obsessive about preparation, and built a reputation for solving hard problems others avoided. That approach helped him rise through HBO and Time Warner before transforming WWE into a global media powerhouse. In this episode, George joins Ilana to share the habits that accelerated his career, the tough leadership decisions behind WWE’s growth, and the mindset shifts that helped him reinvent himself under pressure. George Barrios is the former Co-President and CFO of WWE, where he helped transform the company into a global entertainment business. He is the founder of ISOS Capital, an investment and advisory firm focused on sports, media, and technology. In this episode, Ilana and George will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (08:48) When Talent Turned Into Self-Sabotage (13:12) The Turning Point: Meeting His Wife at UConn (15:49) Fake It Till You Make It: Learning on the Job (23:17) Creating Opportunities After Rejection (33:31) Driving Digital Growth at The New York Times (39:38) Making Painful Decisions Under Pressure (44:14) Transforming WWE into a Global Media Business (50:35) The Fallout With Vince McMahon and WWE Exit (59:27) Writing His Book and Sharing Hard Lessons (01:05:52) Q&A: How Do I Open Doors in a Crowded Market? George Barrios is a former Fortune 500 executive and the founder of ISOS Capital, an investment firm focused on global opportunities in sports, media, and technology. He previously served as Co-President and CFO of WWE and held leadership roles at The New York Times, HBO, and Praxair, building a track record in strategy, operations, and financial leadership. His new book, Sometimes Wrong but Never in Doubt, shares the lessons behind his unconventional path to success. Connect with George: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/georgebarrios/ Resources Mentioned: George’s Book, Sometimes Wrong but Never in Doubt: How a Cuban Kid from Queens Transformed WWE: https://www.amazon.com/Sometimes-Wrong-but-Never-Doubt-ebook/dp/B0G4N4T9XV The World is Flat: The Globalized World in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Friedman: https://www.amazon.in/dp/0141034890 Tony Khan: Building AEW into a Billion-Dollar Brand and Competing with Wrestling Giants: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqqfg-ysj0M Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

When Eric Ries built his first startup, he believed he had the perfect plan. But when no customers showed up, the business collapsed, exposing a costly truth: being certain does not make you right. That failure forced him to rethink his assumptions and ultimately led him to develop the Lean Startup method, a new way of building companies grounded in testing, learning, and truth. In this episode, Eric chats with Ilana about why most startups fail before they even launch, how to test ideas early to uncover what actually works, and how leaders can build companies that scale without losing their values. Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and startup strategist best known for creating The Lean Startup methodology, a framework that helps founders build businesses through rapid experimentation and continuous iteration. In this episode, Ilana and Eric will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:57) How His Childhood Curiosity Led Him to Computers (08:55) Dropping Out of Yale to Chase a Startup Dream (13:01) The Harsh Reality of the Entrepreneurship Fantasy (14:53) Why Silicon Valley Loves Failed Startups (19:37) Building, Scaling, and Leaving IMVU (23:09) Reinventing Your Identity After Loss (27:10) Tuning Out Bad Advice and Hearing What Matters (30:40) Using Negative Feedback to Fuel Growth (39:11) The Groundbreaking Lean Startup Philosophy (46:13) The Worldwide Resistance to Innovation (51:28) The Controversial Idea Behind Incorruptible (57:18) The Entrepreneurial Near-Death Experience Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, author, and thought leader best known for creating the Lean Startup methodology, which transformed how startups and large companies build products. He is the founder of Long-Term Stock Exchange and has advised founders, executives, and organizations around the world on innovation, leadership, and long-term growth. Connect with Eric: Eric’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eries Eric’s X: x.com/ericries Resources Mentioned: Eric’s Book, The Lean Startup: https://www.amazon.in/dp/0307887898 Eric’s Book, Incorruptible: https://www.incorruptible.co/ Lean Startup Website: leanstartup.co/ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Jason Feifer started his career writing about middle school dances at a tiny local newspaper, frustrated and convinced he was capable of more. Stuck in a role that wasn’t moving him forward, he quit, sat in his dumpy apartment next to a graveyard, and began cold-pitching major publications with no connections. That decision transformed his trajectory, eventually leading him to become Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and a leading voice on career growth and adaptability. In this episode, Jason chats with Ilana about why doing only what’s expected of you slows your growth, how to identify opportunities, and steps to take control of your career in an unpredictable world. Jason Feifer is the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, a podcast host, book author, and keynote speaker who helps people build careers and companies they love by sharing lessons from the world's top entrepreneurs and leaders. In this episode, Ilana and Jason will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:48) Cold Pitches From a Bedroom Next to a Graveyard (06:41) Developing an ‘Opportunity Set B’ Mindset (09:51) Building Skills Strategically Across Jobs (12:58) Renting a Title vs. Owning Your Name (17:02) The Mission Statement That Survives Any Job Loss (24:22) Why Jason Walked Away From His Biggest Hit (31:51) How to Test Multiple Ventures At Once (34:31) How a Lawsuit Accidentally Built Jason’s Success (40:00) The Danger of Labeling Yourself (47:47) Q&A: How Do You Become More Adaptable? Jason Feifer is the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, a role he has held for over 10 years. He is the author of Build for Tomorrow, host of the podcast Help Wanted, and a sought-after keynote speaker who has spoken for companies including Pfizer, Alibaba, Clorox, and more. Jason also advises startups, sits on multiple advisory boards, and writes the weekly newsletter One Thing Better. His work centers on adaptability, personal reinvention, and helping individuals and organizations thrive through change. Connect with Jason Jason’s Website: https://www.jasonfeifer.com Jason’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonfeifer Jason’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyfeifer/ Resources Mentioned: Jason's Newsletter, One Thing Better: https://www.jasonfeifer.com⁠ Jason’s Book, Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career: https://www.amazon.com/dp/059323538X Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Tim Draper didn’t become a legendary investor with billions in his account overnight; he started by taking a $6 million loan to launch his first venture fund, knowing failure was a real possibility. That decision didn’t just shape his career; it laid the foundation for backing some of the biggest companies in the world, including Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, and more. In this episode, Tim joins Ilana to break down how to spot world-changing ideas before they make sense, why most people miss their biggest opportunities, and how listening to your gut can be more powerful than logic alone. He shares the lessons behind massive wins like Hotmail, painful misses like Netflix, and the mindset required to navigate uncertainty, fear, and reinvention. Tim Draper is a third-generation venture capitalist, founder of Draper University, and one of Silicon Valley's most legendary investors. He is a lifelong advocate for entrepreneurship, innovation, and the next generation of world-changing founders. In this episode, Ilana and Tim will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (04:11) Early Lessons on Money, Risk, and Capitalism (08:43) Leaving Home at 13 and Learning to Figure It Out (11:48) Venture Capital Roots and Family Background (14:17) Taking a $6 Million Loan and Betting on Himself (17:14) Spotting Billion-Dollar Companies Before Anyone Else (20:11) The Viral Growth Strategy Behind Hotmail (23:26) How Skype Changed Global Communication Forever (29:18) Navigating the Dot-Com Crash (34:13) Will AI and Crypto Follow the Same Boom Cycle? (35:55) The Power of Listening to Your Gut as an Entrepreneur (46:59) Q&A: How Do I Know What to Invest In? Tim Draper is a third-generation venture capitalist and founder of Draper University. He backed world-changing companies, including Hotmail, Skype, Tesla, SpaceX, Coinbase, and Robinhood. Known for spotting transformative trends before the mainstream, he's also a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship education, cryptocurrency, and celebrating innovation. His show Meet the Drapers reaches roughly 300 million people globally. Connect with Tim Tim’s Website: https://timothydraper.com/ Tim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothydraper/ Tim’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/timdraper/ Resources Mentioned: Tim’s Book, How to be the Startup Hero - A Guide and Textbook for Entrepreneurs and Aspiring Entrepreneurs: https://www.amazon.com/How-Startup-Hero-Textbook-Entrepreneurs/dp/1973585340/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

When Yancey Strickler moved to New York, he was broke, freelancing for $50, and chasing a writing career. Little did he know, his gift for building on the internet would soon change the world of crowdfunding. A chance encounter with a friend and a half-baked idea about crowd-funded concert tickets led to the founding of Kickstarter, a platform that has raised over $7 billion for creative projects worldwide. In this episode, Yancey joins Ilana to discuss his journey from freelancing on a shoestring budget to building a billion-dollar platform and what it took to survive the hardest moments. He also explains his bold plan to help artists participate in capitalism. Yancey Strickler is the co-founder and former CEO of Kickstarter, the platform that raised over $7 billion for more than 200,000 creative projects. He now runs Metalabel, a studio building tools for creative cooperation. In this episode, Ilana and Yancey will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:11) From Music Households to Manhattan Bylines (06:28) The Side Project That Changed Everything (13:34) The Ladder Vouch System That Launched Kickstarter (18:57) Why Showing Up as an Open Box Wins Every Room (26:31) The Day Two Projects Hit a Million Dollars at Once (33:40) The New Definition of Work in the Age of AI (36:28) Building the Legal Blueprint for the Artist Economy (43:09) Why the Private Internet Is Where the Real World Lives (49:38) Q&A: How to Open Doors to New Connections Yancey Strickler is a writer, serial entrepreneur, and the co-founder of Kickstarter, the global crowdfunding platform that has raised billions for creative projects. He's the author of This Could Be Our Future and The Dark Forest Anthology of the Internet and the co-host of the New Creative Era podcast. Before Kickstarter, Yancey was a music critic for outlets like Pitchfork and Spin. Today, he leads two bold projects: A Corp, a legislative effort to provide artists with real economic infrastructure, and DFOs, a platform reimagining the private internet. Connect with Yancey Yancey’s Website: https://www.ystrickler.com Yancey’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yancey-strickler-486b4557/ Yancey’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ystrickler/ Yancey’s X: https://x.com/ystrickler Resources Mentioned: Yancey’s Books, This Could Be Our Future: A Manifesto for a More Generous World: https://www.amazon.com/This-Could-Our-Future-Manifesto/dp/0525560823 The Dark Forest Anthology of the Internet: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Forest-Anthology-Internet/dp/B0D14NN1DN On the Creative Life: Conversations Toward a New Creative Era: https://squad.metalabel.com/onthecreativelife?ref=ystrickler.com&variantId=1 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Elena Cardone’s life changed the day she watched her best friend die in a house fire. That trauma sent her spiraling into a decade of drugs and alcohol, and as more friends died in the years that followed, she believed she was next. Until one night, a dream forced her to confront the truth: she wasn’t honoring her friend’s life; she was wasting her own. That moment became the turning point that set her on a path to transforming her life and building a $5 billion empire. In this episode, Elena shares how she broke free from destructive patterns and the mindset shifts that transformed her marriage, career, and financial future. Elena Cardone is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker, and real estate investor who has built a $5 billion portfolio alongside her husband, Grant Cardone. She is the co-founder of Cardone Capital, Cardone Foundation, and Cardone Mortgage. In this episode, Ilana and Elena will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (05:39) The House Fire That Changed Everything (08:52) How Your Mind Works Against You to Self-Sabotage (11:21) Moving to Hollywood and Discovering Its Dark Sides (15:56) How Trauma Almost Cost Her the Right Man (24:15) The 2008 Crisis and a Marriage Breaking Point (27:25) How a Nightly Game Built a Billion-Dollar Mindset (35:41) The Hidden Cost of Believing Money Is Evil (41:40) Why Great People Attack Your Weaknesses (46:38) Elena’s Plan to Build Global Influence (51:29) Q&A: How Do You Get Paid to Speak? Elena Cardone is an entrepreneur, former actress, podcast host, and the bestselling author of Build an Empire. She is a licensed realtor leading a 500-agent organization with eXp Realty, and has built a $5 billion portfolio alongside her husband, Grant Cardone. Elena is also the co-founder of both the Grant Cardone Foundation, which helps underserved youth understand finance and business, and Cardone Mortgage, which makes homeownership more accessible across all 50 states. Connect with Elena: Elena’s Website: https://elenacardone.com Elena’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenacardone/ Elena’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenacardone/ Resources Mentioned: Elena’s Book, Build an Empire: How to Have It All: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Empire-How-have-All-ebook/dp/B09RGHGQ4K Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health by L. Ron Hubbard: https://www.amazon.com/Dianetics-Modern-Science-Mental-Health/dp/B001EPO4Z2 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Ra’anan Cohen walked into the tech world with no fancy degree and no startup pedigree; just a phone call from a friend and the promise of free food and a gym membership. From day one, he felt like an outsider, constantly battling imposter syndrome. Yet, he stuck with it, learned the ropes of the startup world, and ultimately founded a billion-dollar company. In this episode, Ra’anan joins Ilana to share his wild 15-year ride: a public company on NASDAQ, a unicorn valued at $1 billion, and a board that tried to fire him at his peak. He reveals everything the startup world doesn't want you to know about the real cost of chasing unicorns. Ra’anan Cohen is a serial entrepreneur, author, and the co-founder of Bringg, a SaaS delivery management platform that achieved unicorn status with a $1 billion valuation. He was also the founder and CEO of MobileMax, which went public on NASDAQ. In this episode, Ilana and Ra’anan will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (04:30) The Biggest False Beliefs On Entrepreneurship (06:38) The Impact of Imposter Syndrome on Ra'anan's Career (09:16) Quitting a Stable Job to Start a Company (12:09) Raising Capital with No Credentials (15:34) The $10M Mistake That Cost Him Everything (18:55) How a Pizza Night Sparked a Billion-Dollar Idea (24:35) Raising Capital the Second Time: The Stealth Mode Strategy (28:47) Different Types of Modern Investors (32:52) Why Startups Are Marathons, Not Rollercoasters (43:43) When to Make Life-Changing Decisions (and When Not To) (45:39) Redefining Success: The Multi-Bucket Life Philosophy (53:36) Q&A: Handling Rejection Without Losing Your Spark Ra’anan Cohen is a serial entrepreneur, author, and the co-founder of Bringg, a SaaS delivery management platform that achieved unicorn status with a $1 billion valuation. He was the founder and CEO of MobileMax, where he led the company to multimillion-dollar international sales and an IPO. Ra'anan is also the author of Confessions of a Unicorn Founder, a national bestseller in Israel, which is currently being adapted into a TV series. Connect with Ra’anan: Ra’anan’s Website: https://www.raanancohen.com Ra’anan’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raananc Resources Mentioned: Ra’anan’s Book, Confessions of a Unicorn Founder: Obsession, Greed, and the Brutal Truth Behind Chasing the Startup Dream: https://www.raanancohen.com⁠ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

When Kim Perell was fired, she had to fire all her friends on the same day. The company she thought would make her a millionaire had just gone bankrupt, leaving her with no income or backup plan. Instead of giving up, she took a $10,000 loan from her grandmother to start her first company from her kitchen table. That bet led to a $20 million exit and eventually, a $235 million company. In this episode, Kim joins Ilana to share how to turn setbacks and mistakes into million-dollar breakthroughs and how to overcome the limiting beliefs holding you back. She also reveals the four pillars that helped her achieve success without burning out. Kim Perell is a 9x founder, 3x bestselling author, and investor in 100+ companies. Kim became a multi-millionaire by the time she was 30, and sold her last company for $235 million to Singtel, while simultaneously running multi-million-dollar companies. In this episode, Ilana and Kim will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (04:08) Growing Up in the Shadow of Her Twin Sister (07:07) Learning Risk and Failure from Entrepreneur Parents (09:46) How Getting Fired Led to a Career Pivot (13:31) Her Grandma’s Life-Changing $10K Loan (16:37) Using The 70% Rule to Make Business Decisions (18:48) The Four Pillars of Business Success (23:50) Selling Her Business for $20 Million (28:02) Building a Money Mindset (30:59) The Dangers of Failing to Pivot Or Make Mistakes (40:13) Teaching Your Children Resilience (45:01) Q&A: How to Chase Success Despite Fear Kim Perell is a 9-time founder, 3-time bestselling author, top keynote speaker, and investor in over 100 companies. Her book, Mistakes That Made Me a Millionaire, offers a transformative guide to turning setbacks into million-dollar opportunities. An award-winning entrepreneur, Kim has appeared on major platforms and serves as a judge for Entrepreneur Magazine’s Elevator Pitch. She is dedicated to empowering the next generation of business leaders for success. Connect with Kim: Kim’s Website: https://kimperell.com/ Kim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimperell/ Kim’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimperell/ Resources Mentioned: Kim’s Book, Mistakes that Made Me a Millionaire: How to Transform Setbacks into Extraordinary Success: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637747128 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Jason Fried didn’t follow the startup rules most founders swear by. He rejected venture capital, refused to chase growth at all costs, and chose to stay small on purpose. What started as a scrappy web design agency turned into Basecamp, a multi-million-dollar business built on profitability, simplicity, and conviction. In this episode, Jason joins Ilana to challenge everything you think you know about scaling a business. He also opens up about how a single leadership decision caused 30% of his company to quit overnight, and how staying principled ultimately made the company stronger. Jason Fried is the co-founder and CEO of 37signals, the company behind Basecamp and HEY. For over 27 years, he has grown Basecamp into a multi-million dollar business without ever taking venture capital or chasing aggressive growth targets. In this episode, Ilana and Jason will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:18) Lessons from Selling Stereo Equipment as a Kid (06:58) Starting 37signals from Scratch (14:13) Pivoting to Software Through Basecamp (16:41) The Perks of Being a Small Company (27:24) The Policy That Made 30% of the Company Quit (31:45) Surviving the Backlash and Rebuilding the Team (39:21) Building Thicker Skin as a Leader (42:43) How to Incorporate AI Without Getting Carried Away (45:15) How Basecamp Is Reinventing Itself with Version 5 (48:56) Why Jason Won’t Advise His Younger Self (54:07) Q&A: How to Decide Your Next Career Move Jason Fried is a co-founder and CEO of 37signals, the makers of Basecamp. He is a bestselling author of Rework and It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work. Known for his contrarian approach to entrepreneurship, Jason emphasizes simplicity, profitability, and long-term thinking. For over 27 years, he has grown Basecamp into a multi-million dollar, fully profitable business without ever taking venture capital or chasing aggressive growth targets. Connect with Jason: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jason-fried X: https://x.com/jasonfried Resources Mentioned: Jason’s Books: Rework: https://www.amazon.com/Rework-Jason-Fried/dp/0307463745 It Doesn't Have to Be Crazy at Work: https://www.amazon.com/Doesnt-Have-Be-Crazy-Work/dp/0062874780 37signals’ Website: https://37signals.com Basecamp’s Website: https://basecamp.com Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Don McGuire did not build his career through a straight line. He lost elections as a kid, moved every few years, started over again and again, and had to learn resilience early. After graduating from college, he was still unsure what to do, but a leap into the early cellular industry launched a career that would take him from sales to marketing and ultimately, the CMO seat at Qualcomm. In this episode, Don chats with Ilana about how to stay in control of your career in a world changing at the speed of AI. He shares why resilience matters more than ever, how to spot the right time to leap, and what it takes to stay relevant in a crowded job market. Don McGuire is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Qualcomm, with over 25 years of experience across service providers, semiconductors, and technology marketing. In 2025, he was named one of Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs. In this episode, Ilana and Don will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:14) The Early Experiences That Built Don’s Resilience (10:46) His Love for Marketing and Journey Into Tech (18:00) The Transition From Sales to Marketing (20:18) Why You Must Stay in Control of Your Own Destiny (23:25) Startup Lessons, Consulting, and Selling Yourself (27:43) Knowing When It Was Time to Leap Back Into Corporate (31:45) The Crisis That Forced Qualcomm to Tell Its Story (38:16) The One Trait Gen Z and Gen Alpha Need Most (40:33) How to Stand Out in an AI-Driven Job Market (45:02) Why Portfolio Careers and Side Skills Matter (48:03) What Excites Don Most About Qualcomm’s Future (53:05) Q&A: How to Break the “I Can’t Get a Job” Mindset Don McGuire is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Qualcomm, where he oversees global marketing as the company expands beyond mobile into automotive, computing, AI, and other growth areas. Before joining Qualcomm, he held senior leadership roles at Intel and other major wireless and technology companies. In 2025, he was named one of Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs. Connect with Don: Don’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/donnymac Resources Mentioned: Qualcomm: https://www.qualcomm.com/ Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

In the late 1990s, Mike Seckler started a company with little experience, plenty of curiosity, and no idea what was coming. Then the dot-com bubble burst. Almost overnight, capital disappeared. Companies collapsed. And Mike faced one of the hardest decisions of his career: laying off a third of his team to keep the company alive. That moment changed how he builds companies and leads today as CEO of Justworks. In this episode, Mike joins Ilana to share the real lessons behind building and scaling through uncertainty and how founders can avoid the leadership mistakes that derail most companies. Mike Seckler is the President and CEO of Justworks, an HR platform helping over 14,000 small businesses manage payroll, benefits, compliance, and workforce management. In this episode, Ilana and Mike will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:42) From History and Geology Student to Entrepreneur (07:05) The Early Days of Founding Employease (09:08) Navigating the Dot Com Crash as a Founder (14:53) Selling to ADP and Starting a New Venture (17:23) Joining Justworks: From Board Member to COO (24:37) Lessons from Transitioning to Justworks’ CEO (26:00) The Biggest Blindspots for Small Businesses (31:58) How to Beat Founder Loneliness (36:34) Adapting to a Rapidly Evolving Market (42:03) Justworks: Empowering Small Businesses for Growth (44:49) Review and Q&A: BREAD Productivity Framework Mike Seckler is a serial entrepreneur who has built and scaled multiple companies over the past two decades. Before joining Justworks, he co-founded Employease, an HR outsourcing firm that was eventually acquired by ADP, and later co-founded Euclidean Technologies, a company applying machine learning to public market investing. Today, as CEO of Justworks, Mike leads a platform serving thousands of small businesses and helping founders navigate the complexities of building and scaling their teams. Connect with Mike: Mike’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikeseckler Resources Mentioned: Justworks Website: https://www.justworks.com Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

When Bill Gurley wanted to break into Wall Street, there were no job postings waiting for him. So he flew to New York, knocked on doors, and asked strangers for meetings. That hustle launched a career that would eventually take him to Silicon Valley, where he became one of the most respected venture capitalists in tech. In this episode, Bill joins Ilana to reveal the unconventional lessons that shaped his journey. From chasing curiosity to designing your own career path, he explains how anyone can create opportunities, stand out in a crowded field, and build a career that actually excites them. Bill Gurley is a Silicon Valley venture capitalist and a longtime partner at Benchmark Capital, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. He has invested in and served on the boards of major companies, including Uber, OpenTable, Zillow, Nextdoor, and Stitch Fix. In this episode, Ilana and Bill will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:14) Where Bill Gurley’s Tech Curiosity Began (05:09) Transitioning from Engineering to Finance (08:25) Breaking Into Wall Street Without a Job Posting (14:24) The Question That Made Him Quit Wall Street (19:59) Making a Pivot to Venture Capital (24:41) The Best Way to Get Into Venture Capital (26:50) How to Know If You’re in the Right Career (30:30) The Role of Experimentation in Career Growth (33:20) How to Stand Out in a Competitive Job Market (37:29) Why Location Can Make or Break Your Career (40:50) Breaking Free From the “Safe Career” Pressure (48:30) The 5–5–5 Rule for Career Experiments Bill Gurley is a venture capitalist, technology investor, and general partner at Benchmark Capital, best known for his early investment in companies like Uber. Before venture capital, he worked as an engineer at Compaq and later as a Wall Street technology analyst. Throughout his career, Bill has been known for identifying transformative companies early and for his widely read blog Above the Cloud. His new book, Running Down a Dream, offers a practical guide to building a fulfilling career Connect with Bill: Bill’s X (Twitter): x.com/bgurley Bill’s Website: abovethecrowd.com Resources Mentioned: Bill’s Book, Runnin' Down a Dream: How to Thrive in a Career You Actually Love: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593799666 One Up On Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market by Peter Lynch: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0743200403 Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0735214484 Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593139135 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Nir Eyal grew up clinically obese, ashamed of his body, and convinced that food controlled him. He tried every diet: low-fat, keto, vegetarian, and intermittent fasting. Each one worked until it didn’t. What finally changed his life wasn’t a meal plan; it was his belief. When he believed a plan would work, it worked. When that belief cracked, the weight returned. And he realized this pattern doesn’t just apply to weight; it shows up in every area of life. In this episode, Nir joins Ilana to reveal the hidden force behind your success or stagnation. He unpacks the science of belief, how it shapes what you see, feel, and do, and the practical framework to break limiting beliefs before they break you. Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioral design expert, and former Stanford lecturer known for his work on habit formation, psychology, and human behavior. As an entrepreneur and angel investor, Nir has backed multi-billion-dollar companies including Canva and Kahoot!. In this episode, Ilana and Nir will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:14) Childhood and Weight Loss Struggles (07:34) Why Affirmations and Vision Boards Don’t Work (09:18) Facts vs Faith vs Beliefs (10:59) His Journey from Founder to Bestselling Author (16:01) The Power of Belief in Success and Failure (24:49) The ‘Messy Middle’: Knowing When to Persist vs Quit (32:06) Skills Gap vs Belief Gap in Leaders and Teams (34:0) The Four Questions to Rewire a Limiting Belief (46:51) Q&A: Crafting a Memorable Pitch Story Nir Eyal is a bestselling author, behavioral design expert, and former Stanford lecturer. He is the author of Hooked and Indistractable, which have sold over one million copies worldwide and been translated into more than 30 languages. His latest book, Beyond Belief, explores how hidden beliefs shape our limitations and how to replace them to unlock personal and professional growth. An entrepreneur and angel investor, Nir has backed multi-billion-dollar companies including Canva and Kahoot!. Connect with Nir: Nir’s Website: http://nirandfar.com Nir’s Instagram: instagram.com/neyal99 Nir’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nireyal Resources Mentioned: Nir’s Books: Beyond Belief: The Science-Backed Way to Stop Limiting Yourself and Achieve Breakthrough Results: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593852036 Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194883653X Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591847788 Nir’s 30-Day Belief Transformation Journal: nirandfar.com/beyond-belief Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Dr. Amy Shah did everything she was supposed to do. Ivy League education. Elite medical training. Multiple board certifications. On paper, her life looked like a success. But behind the accolades, she was exhausted, disconnected, and running on stress. Then a near-fatal car accident forced her to confront a hard truth. The life she built was slowly breaking her body and mind. In this episode, Amy joins Ilana to share how a personal health crisis became the catalyst for a complete reinvention. She opens up about leaving the traditional medical path without burning the boats, building a science-backed wellness platform, and why women are being failed by modern healthcare. Dr. Amy Shah is a double board-certified physician and nutrition specialist. Through her books and wellness platform, Dr. Amy empowers millions to optimize their health with evidence-based strategies rooted in nutrition, gut health, exercise, and lifestyle medicine. In this episode, Ilana and Dr. Amy will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:30) How a Near-Fatal Accident Became a Wake-Up Call (09:51) From Traditional Medical Path to a Wellness Brand (13:08) Building a Personal Brand Despite Pushback (17:13) The Power of Having a Supportive Network (21:47) How Dr. Amy Built a Powerful Portfolio Career (23:51) Understanding Women's Health: The 30-30-3 Framework (26:41) The Science of Probiotics and Gut Health (30:24) The 4-3-2-1 Movement Framework for Peak Health (37:32) Managing Stress and Cortisol Levels (43:42) Building a Personal Brand and Finding Your Path (47:17) Her Immigrant Roots and Its Impact (51:44) Review and Q&A: Beating Ageism in Your Career Journey Dr. Amy Shah is a double board-certified physician and nutrition specialist. She is the bestselling author of I’m So Effing Hungry and I’m So Effing Tired. Her latest book, Hormone Havoc, offers a science-backed guide to navigating the complexities of perimenopause and menopause. Through her books and wellness platform, Dr. Amy empowers millions to optimize their health with evidence-based strategies rooted in nutrition, gut health, exercise, and lifestyle medicine. Connect with Dr. Amy: Dr. Amy’s Website: https://amymdwellness.com Dr. Amy’s Instagram: instagram.com/dramyshah Resources Mentioned: Dr. Amy’s Books, Hormone Havoc: A Science-Backed Protocol for Perimenopause and Menopause: Sleep Better. Think Better. Feel Better: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063420856 I'm So Effing Hungry: Why We Crave What We Crave – and What to Do About It: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0063285118 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

The world tells leaders they must be everything: visionary, innovator, operator, executor. Patrick Lencioni tried, but it nearly crushed him. He wasn’t exhausted from effort; he was exhausted from misalignment. He discovered what most high performers never admit: trying to be everything is the fastest path to burnout. That insight became The Six Types of Working Genius, a simple framework reshaping how teams work by aligning people with the work that gives them energy. In this episode, Patrick joins Ilana to break down the Six Types of Working Genius and show how aligning your strengths can transform your career, your team, and your fulfillment at work. Patrick Lencioni is a bestselling author and organizational health expert, and the founder of The Table Group. Named by Fortune as “one of the new gurus you should know,” Patrick helps leaders build healthy, high-performing organizations grounded in trust and clarity. In this episode, Ilana and Patrick will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:46) Patrick’s Early Life and Career Beginnings (08:31) Joining Oracle and Pitching Ideas (12:36) Turning Down a Job Offer from Steve Jobs (15:40) The Decision to Start the Table Group (20:18) Navigating the Hard Moments in Entrepreneurship (23:30) Short Attention Spans as a Bestselling Author (28:06) The Birth and Impact of Working Genius (34:48) Applying Working Genius to Career Choices (41:05) W-I-D-G-E-T: The Six Types of Working Genius (54:57) Healing Childhood Scars and Understanding Self (59:15) Q&A: The Keys to Building a Portfolio Career Patrick Lencioni is a bestselling author and organizational health expert, and the founder of The Table Group. He has written 13 books with over 7 million copies sold worldwide, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. He is also the creator of The 6 Types of Working Genius, a framework that helps teams identify the work that energizes them and improves performance. Named by Fortune as “one of the new gurus you should know,” Patrick helps leaders build healthy, high-performing organizations grounded in trust and clarity. Connect with Patrick: Patrick’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patrick-lencioni-orghealth Patrick’s Instagram: instagram.com/patricklencioniofficial Resources Mentioned: Patrick’s Books: The Five Temptations of a CEO: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0062OAEWM The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0787960756 The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XGPCM36 Working Genius Website: https://www.workinggenius.com Take the Working Genius Assessment: https://www.workinggenius.com/about/assessment Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Before Damian Maldonado was negotiating billion-dollar valuations or building businesses across Puerto Rico, he was a kid living in poverty and sharing bunk beds in a homeless shelter with his brothers. But those early years didn’t break him. They led him to become the co-founder and CEO of American Financing, one of the largest privately held mortgage companies in the U.S. In this episode, Damian joins Ilana to share how growing up in poverty shaped his relationship with risk, money, and resilience, and what it really takes to bootstrap a company through market crashes, massive layoffs, and billion-dollar decisions. Damian Maldonado is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder and CEO of American Financing, one of the largest privately held mortgage companies in the U.S., which he helped grow from a small startup into a national brand. In this episode, Ilana and Damian will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:57) Growing Up in Poverty and a Homeless Shelter (08:42) Key Lessons from Early Jobs (11:42) Pitching to a CEO at 21 Without Fear of Rejection (14:38) Damian’s Journey into the Mortgage Industry (19:14) Starting America Financing With No Safety Net (22:30) Leading Through Layoffs and Downturns (27:07) Why He Turned Down a Billion-Dollar Offer (30:57) Leadership Lessons from Richard Branson (34:25) Building a Portfolio Career with Adventure (42:53) Q&A: Crafting a Response to ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ Damian Maldonado is the co-founder and CEO of American Financing, one of the largest privately held mortgage companies in the U.S., which he helped grow from a small startup into a national brand. He also co-founded American Home Agents and has expanded his business interests into hospitality and lifestyle ventures in Puerto Rico, including a boutique beachfront hotel, restaurant, and kiteboarding school, creating jobs and adding value to the local community. Connect with Damian: Damian’s Website: https://damianmaldonado.com Damian’s Instagram: instagram.com/damiankitepr Resources Mentioned: American Financing Website: americanfinancing.net Numero Uno Website: numerounopr.com Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins: https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Giant-Within-Immediate-Emotional/dp/0671791540 Think And Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill: https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Landmark-Bestseller/dp/1585424331 Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki: https://www.amazon.com/Rich-Dad-Poor-Teach-Middle/dp/1612681131/ The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss: https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

After two decades as a pastor making $50K a year, Eileen Wilder woke up to a terrifying truth: she was meant for more. Her body was breaking down. Her joy was gone. Then she walked into a conference that changed everything. Within 18 months, she went from broke and overwhelmed to generating seven figures as a coach. In this episode, Eileen joins Ilana to share how she pivoted from ministry to million-dollar offers, how immersive events like LeapCon can fast-track your growth, and the powerful exercise that will help you package your expertise and charge your worth. Eileen Wilder is a bestselling author and high-ticket business coach helping individuals package their expertise into profitable high-ticket offers. As a keynote speaker, she has shared stages with leaders like Tony Robbins, Russell Brunson, Ed Mylett, and Bishop T.D. Jakes, empowering others to build wealth, freedom, and impact. In this episode, Ilana and Eileen will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (04:06) Eileen's Journey from Pastor to Entrepreneur (07:35) Discovering Life Coaching at a Conference (14:01) The Life-Changing Impact of Events (16:17) How a “Janky” Video Took Her from $297 to $250K (18:35) Losing Her Mother and Finding Financial Power (24:00) From $50K Salary to Seven Figures in 18 Months (26:57) Practical Exercise for Commanding Premium Prices (35:22) $1 Million in a Day: The Power of High-Ticket Offers (40:12) Mastering the Art of Public Speaking (42:39) LeapCon 2026: A Transformational Experience (44:53) The Key to Pricing Your Services Eileen Wilder is a bestselling author, business growth consultant, and keynote speaker who helps entrepreneurs and creators turn their expertise into profitable high-ticket offers and virtual events. A former pastor of 20+ years, she transformed her fear of public speaking into a seven-figure speaking career and is now known as “The Queen of Stages.” Eileen has shared stages with leaders like Tony Robbins, Russell Brunson, Ed Mylett, and Bishop T.D. Jakes, empowering others to build wealth, freedom, and impact. Connect with Eileen: Eileen’s Website: https://eileenwilder.com Eileen’s Instagram: instagram.com/eileenwild Resources Mentioned: Eileen’s Book, Financially Free: How To Create Your Own Economy No Matter What's Going On In the World Around You: https://www.financiallyfreebook.com/ff-1 Eileen’s Book, The Pivot Plan: End Emotional Exhaustion, Overcome Depression, Discover Your Strongest Life: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1943127719 The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143127748 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Stephanie Mehta never chased the CEO title. She chased the story. She built her career in some of the toughest newsrooms in the world, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Fortune, and Vanity Fair, where credibility is earned line by line. Those same instincts eventually carried her beyond the newsroom and into leadership, leading her to the CEO seat at Mansueto Ventures, the company behind Fast Company and Inc. In this episode, Stephanie joins Ilana to share her journey from journalism student to leading iconic media brands, the challenges of stepping into executive leadership, and how to prioritize as a leader in an ever-changing industry. Stephanie Mehta is a journalist, business executive, and CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures, the media company that publishes Fast Company and Inc. magazines. She has held senior editorial roles at Fortune, Bloomberg, and Vanity Fair. In this episode, Ilana and Stephanie will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:52) Stephanie's Early Career in Journalism (05:16) Challenges and Growth at the Wall Street Journal (10:35) Transitioning to Fortune Magazine (17:38) Reflecting on 14 Years at Fortune (22:42) Taking a Break and Exploring New Opportunities (27:18) Becoming the CEO of Fast Company (35:37) How to Get Stories Published in Major Media (39:11) Rising Above the Noise in Business (42:01) How Stephanie Prioritizes as a CEO (45:26) How Careers are Changing in the Modern Era (49:31) The Impact of Immigrant Upbringing Stephanie Mehta is a journalist, business executive, and CEO and chief content officer of Mansueto Ventures, the media company that publishes Fast Company and Inc. magazines. She previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company and held senior editorial roles at Fortune, Bloomberg, and Vanity Fair. Stephanie is also the author of the Modern CEO newsletter, where she explores leadership, careers, and the future of work. Connect with Stephanie: Stephanie’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephanie-mehta-media-ceo Resources Mentioned: Modern CEO Newsletter: https://www.fastcompany.com/section/modern-ceo Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

At just ten years old, Kim Storin was writing letters to CEOs, asking for donations and clearly outlining why her cause mattered. That instinct to connect people, solve problems, and step forward without permission never left her. Years later, as Chief Marketing Officer at Zoom, that same mindset shapes how she leads one of the most trusted brands in modern work. In this episode, Kim joins Ilana to share Zoom’s evolution from a single, iconic product into a broad portfolio of solutions, and what it takes to reinvent a brand the world already relies on without losing trust. Kim Storin is the Chief Marketing Officer at Zoom and a seasoned marketing leader with experience spanning consulting, enterprise transformation, and global brand leadership. She has held senior leadership roles at companies including Dell, IBM, and Deloitte. In this episode, Ilana and Kim will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (03:44) Making Bold Requests at Age Ten (06:28) Problem Solving as Her Career Compass (14:53) Receiving the Hardest Feedback of Her Career (17:40) Athletic Pursuits and Influence on Leadership (20:50) Joining Zoom and Leading Its Transformation (23:38) How Zoom Reinvented and Repositioned Itself (27:12) The New Era of Marketing and How to Stay Ahead (30:33) AI as a Teammate, Not a Threat (35:08) Redefining Success Beyond Metrics and Titles (38:30) The Right Way to Build a Portfolio Career Kim Storin is the Chief Marketing Officer at Zoom, where she leads global marketing strategy, brand, and growth as the company evolves into a broader communications platform. Prior to Zoom, Kim held senior leadership roles at companies including Dell, IBM, Deloitte, and multiple high-growth organizations. She is also a lifelong athlete, marathon runner, and is passionate about building the next generation of market leaders. Connect with Kim: Kim’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kimberlystorin Resources Mentioned: Zoom: https://www.zoom.com Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Long before ChatGPT became a household name, Zack Kass was walking into boardrooms as Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, introducing executives to a technology they barely understood or cared about. Then one simple shift changed everything. Put intelligence into a familiar interface, remove friction, and suddenly the future arrived. In this episode, Zack joins Ilana to unpack what truly drove ChatGPT’s explosive growth, confront the biggest fears leaders have about AI, and explore what the future of work will demand from humans next. Zack Kass is a global AI advisor, keynote speaker, and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, where he helped bring some of the world’s most transformative AI technologies to market. In this episode, Ilana and Zack will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:59) Zack’s Journey to OpenAI (04:46) Understanding Modern AI and Its Evolution (08:03) The Breakthrough of ChatGPT and Its Impact (17:42) Transitioning from OpenAI to New Beginnings (21:21) Challenging Common Misconceptions About AI (28:32) Adaptability in a Rapidly Changing World (34:54) Lessons from Top Innovators (38:15) The Future of Work and Purpose in the Age of AI Zack Kass is a global AI advisor, futurist, speaker, and former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, where he helped bring some of the world’s most transformative AI technologies to market. He now advises global leaders and organizations on how artificial intelligence will reshape work, leadership, and human potential, turning complex ideas into clear, practical insight for the future. His book, The Next Renaissance, offers an optimistic vision of how AI will shape our future. Connect with Zack: Zack’s Website: zackkass.com Zack’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zackkass Resources Mentioned: Zack’s Book, The Next Renaissance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1394381085 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment.👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

At just 10 years old, Mick Hunt made a promise that would shape the rest of his life. Growing up in a home marked by abuse, Mick stepped into a role no child should ever have to carry. He became the protector, the emotional anchor, and the one who believed he could change his family’s future. That moment didn’t just force him to grow up fast. It forged a lifelong mission around leadership, accountability, and purpose. In this episode, Mick joins Ilana to share the raw story behind that promise, how it shaped his drive to build businesses and high-performing teams, and why leadership starts with something deeper than your “why.” Mick Hunt is a leadership coach, entrepreneur, and speaker known for helping ambitious individuals unlock their full potential. He works with leaders who want to grow their influence, scale their thinking, and build companies and teams that people genuinely believe in and follow. In this episode, Ilana and Mick will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:14) How a Traumatic Childhood Built Mick’s Drive (08:48) The Childhood Promise That Defined His Life (10:26) Entrepreneurial Beginnings and Challenges (16:36) His Passion for Building High-Performing Teams (17:14) Why Your ‘Because’ Beats Your ‘Why’ (21:50) The “What If I Fail” Mindset (27:46) Understanding The MICK Factor (30:42) Mick’s Book: How to Be a Good Leader (36:09) The Future of Leadership and Staying Relevant (38:53) The Value of Mentorship (42:28) Daily Practices for Success Mick Hunt is a USA Today bestselling author, international speaker, and leadership expert known for his impact in modern leadership and emotional intelligence. He is the host of the highly rated Mick Unplugged podcast and the author of How to Be a Good Leader When You’ve Never Had One, a modern leadership guide with hands-on insights and actionable frameworks to help you lead with transparency, resilience, and influence. Connect with Mick: Mick’s Website: https://mickhuntofficial.com/ Mick’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mickhunt Resources Mentioned: Mick’s Book, How to Be a Good Leader When You've Never had One: The Blueprint for Modern Leadership: http://amazon.com/Good-Leader-When-Youve-Never/dp/1394357958 Mick’s Podcast, Mick Unplugged: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mick-unplugged/id1731755953 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

As a young mom, primary breadwinner, and full-time professional, Sheila Lirio Marcelo understood the relentless struggle of balancing work and family. The constant search for reliable care left her feeling overwhelmed. Instead of accepting this as the norm, Sheila took matters into her own hands and created Care.com, a platform that has eased the caregiving burden for millions of families worldwide. In this episode, Sheila joins Ilana to discuss her journey of balancing motherhood and a high-powered career, the challenges of building Care.com, and her exciting new venture, Ohai.ai, an AI-powered household assistant. Sheila Lirio Marcelo is the founder of Care.com, an online marketplace for families to find childcare, senior care, pet care, and more. She is also the founder of Ohai, an AI-powered household assistant designed to help reduce the mental load of running a home. In this episode, Ilana and Sheila will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:12) Sheila's Childhood and Family Influence (08:04) Struggling to Balance Motherhood and a Career (11:20) Her Journey Into Entrepreneurship and Care.com (14:57) Why Generalists Are Key in Business (18:12) Care.com’s Success: The Power of Testing Ideas (23:34) Building a Two-Sided Marketplace and Gaining Trust (29:44) The Decision to Go Public With Care.com (31:39) Managing Decision-Making and Stress as a Leader (33:38) Reinventing With Ohai AI for Families (40:01) Her Approach to Mental Clarity and Calm (44:44) Embracing Challenges and Personal Growth Sheila Lirio Marcelo is the founder and former CEO of Care.com, the world’s largest online caregiving marketplace, which went public in 2014 and was acquired for $500 million in 2020. After years of leading Care.com through exponential growth, Sheila transitioned into a new chapter, founding Ohai, an AI-powered household assistant designed to help manage various household activities. She is deeply committed to creating solutions that simplify life, improve well-being, and empower families. Connect with Sheila: Sheila’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sheilamarcelo Sheila’s Instagram: instagram.com/sheilaliriomarcelo Resources Mentioned: Care.com’s Website: https://www.care.com/ Ohai’s Website: https://www.ohai.ai/ Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment.👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Robin Arzón’s leap from lawyer to fitness powerhouse wasn’t just a career shift; it was a radical reinvention. After surviving a traumatic hostage situation, she turned to running as a way to heal, reclaim control, and push past limits. What began as a coping mechanism evolved into a mission: to complete ultra-marathons, build a global fitness brand, and inspire others as a lead instructor at Peloton. Even after being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, Robin refused to be defined by anything but her unstoppable drive. In this episode, Robin opens up to Ilana about how she transformed trauma into purpose, made a bold leap into fitness, and became a global force in wellness with Peloton. Robin Arzón is a fitness expert, former lawyer, author, and motivational speaker. She is best known as an instructor at Peloton, where she inspires millions with her high-energy cycling and strength classes. In this episode, Ilana and Robin will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (01:37) Surviving a Hostage Situation (05:47) Discovering Running as a Healing Tool (08:51) From Casual Runs to Ultra-Marathons (11:29) Transitioning from a Law Career to Fitness (13:19) Landing a Job at Peloton with a Cold Email (15:49) Living and Thriving with Type 1 Diabetes (18:34) Juggling a Career, Motherhood, and Life’s Demands (21:39) Pushing Past Her Limits at the StriveX Challenge (24:54) Building a Global Brand Through Consistency (28:18) Swagger Society and Upcoming Cookbook (31:47) Learning to Trust Life’s Redirections Robin Arzón is a fitness expert, former lawyer, author, and motivational speaker. She is best known for inspiring millions with her high-energy cycling and strength classes as an instructor at Peloton, where she is also the Vice President of Fitness Programming. Robin is also a New York Times bestselling author of Shut Up and Run and Strong Mama, sharing her personal stories and fitness philosophies. She advocates for mental and physical strength, promoting the power of movement and mindset to achieve personal transformation. Connect with Robin: Robin’s Website: https://www.robinarzon.com/ Robin’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinnyc Resources Mentioned: Robin’s Books: Shut Up and Run: How to Get Up, Lace Up, and Sweat with Swagger: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062445685 Eat to Hustle: 75 High-Protein Plant-Based Recipes (A Cookbook): https://www.amazon.com/dp/031659427X Robin’s Journal, Welcome, Hustler: An Empowerment Journal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1454946342 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Russell Brunson failed more times in his early 20s than most founders do in a lifetime. From broken funnels to failed product launches, he turned every setback into a lesson, refining his craft while navigating near bankruptcy, legal threats, and even moments where he feared jail time. Those hard years became the foundation that ultimately led him to co-found ClickFunnels, one of the fastest-growing bootstrapped tech companies in the world. In this episode, Russell joins Ilana to share how he bounced back from his toughest moments, offering powerful lessons in resilience, leadership, and authentic relationships. Russell Brunson is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and digital marketing expert. He is widely recognized as the co-founder of ClickFunnels, a leading marketing software company that helps businesses worldwide boost conversions and drive sales. In this episode, Ilana and Russell will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:04) The Infomercial That Led Him to Entrepreneurship (05:52) The Influence of Wrestling on His Business Drive (08:18) College Days and the Potato Gun Venture (10:15) The Rollercoaster Journey to His First Million (14:48) Key Lessons from His Toughest Year (21:50) The Birth of ClickFunnels and Its Challenges (34:41) Gaining Lifelong Mentorship from Tony Robbins (37:55) Dream 100 Strategy: The Power of Relationships (43:08) Why Vulnerability Can Lead to Unlikely Success (47:14) Tips for Building a Winning Team (50:17) Turning Your Pain into an Asset Russell Brunson is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, and digital marketing expert. He is widely recognized as the co-founder of ClickFunnels, a leading marketing software company that helps businesses worldwide boost conversions and drive sales. Over the past 19 years, he has built a community of over a million entrepreneurs and authored New York Times bestsellers, including DotCom Secrets and Expert Secrets. Connect with Russell: Russell’s Website: www.russellbrunson.com Russell’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/russellbrunson Russell’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/russellbrunson Resources Mentioned: Russell’s YouTube: youtube.com/@russellbrunson The 12 Month Millionaire Droplets: Vincent James's Unmissable Revelations by Vincent James: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CXJGPXNN Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty: The Only Networking Book You'll Ever Need by Harvey Mackay: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0385485468 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

When Kevin Kelly dropped out of college in the 1970s, it was almost unheard of. Instead of following a traditional path, he chose a life driven by curiosity, freedom, and hands-on learning. That decision led him to hitchhike across Asia, document disappearing cultures, and eventually immerse himself in the early internet. Years later, he co-founded Wired, a magazine that soon became the voice of emerging technology and culture. In this episode, Kevin joins Ilana to share how Wired went from fighting for shelf space to redefining what a tech publication could be. He also explains his unique relationship with time, why he tracks the days he has left, and how creators today can thrive with just 1,000 true fans. Kevin Kelly is a writer, photographer, and Senior Maverick at Wired, an award-winning magazine he co-founded in 1993. He is also a former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review and the author of multiple bestselling books about the future of technology. In this episode, Ilana and Kevin will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:14) Choosing an Unconventional Path to Success (06:34) The Start of His Adventures in Asia (10:54) Getting into Writing and Publishing (14:17) Creating One of the First Hacker Conferences (20:18) The Grit Behind Wired Magazine’s Success (30:37) The Dot-Com Bust and Why Wired was Split (34:17) The Origin and Power of “1,000 True Fans” (41:18) How a Near-Death Experience Transformed Kevin (47:10) About His Latest Book,  Colors of Asia Kevin Kelly is a writer, photographer, and co-founder of the award-winning Wired magazine, and a former editor and publisher of the Whole Earth Review. He is the co-chair of The Long Now Foundation, which champions long-term thinking, and the creator of the Cool Tools website, which has reviewed tools daily for over 20 years. Kevin is also the author of multiple bestselling books on the future of technology, and his latest book, Colors of Asia, captures the culture of all 35 Asian countries through vivid photography. Connect with Kevin: Kevin’s Website: https://kk.org Kevin’s Twitter: https://x.com/kevin2kelly Resources Mentioned: Kevin’s Book, Colors of Asia: A Visual Journey: https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Asia-Journey-Kevin-Kelly/dp/B0FGJ18PG5 Leaves of Grass: The Original 1855 Edition by Walt Whitman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1449505716 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Jordan Ritter didn’t grow up surrounded by tech; he grew up on a farm, tinkering with computers in total isolation. But that early curiosity led him to co-found Napster, the file-sharing service that transformed music distribution. As millions of users flooded the platform, Jordan was instrumental in keeping it alive through sleepless nights and nonstop chaos. The success was massive, the failure was brutal, but the lessons shaped everything he did next. In this episode, Jordan reveals to Ilana the real story behind Napster, the personal sacrifices of innovation, and the mindset required to build something that leaves a legacy. Jordan Ritter is a serial entrepreneur, software architect, and angel investor, recognized for his work at Napster, the file-sharing service that reshaped music distribution and digital technology. Since then, he has launched and advised multiple startups in the tech industry. In this episode, Ilana and Jordan will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:08) Growing Up on a Farm and Discovering Tech (06:40) His Journey into Hacking and Computer Security (12:37) Joining Napster and Disrupting the Music Industry (17:55) Experiencing Napster’s Highs and Crushing Lows (32:20) Why Jordan Decided to Leave Napster (40:16) Reinventing and Building Companies with Value (46:03) The Importance of Culture in Startups (52:19) Navigating Interviews and Culture Alignment (55:18) The Challenges of Starting a Business (1:03:30) Lessons Learned and Giving Back Jordan Ritter is a serial entrepreneur, software architect, angel investor, and co-founder of Napster, where he helped scale the platform to 60 million users. A four-time founder, he has built 20+ large-scale commercial and open-source products across 12 languages, developing systems used by millions. At Cloudmark, Servio, and Augment AI, Jordan built intuitive, scalable, and reliable platforms, and he now advises CoPilotKit on product strategy. Connect with Jordan: Jordan’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jordanritter Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

Ilana Golan has reinvented herself more times than most people switch job titles. From becoming one of the first women to train F-16 pilots in the Israeli Air Force, to engineering, to product, to Silicon Valley executive, to investor, to founder, she’s rebuilt her identity again and again in industries that weren’t built for people like her. In this episode of the Remarkable People podcast, Guy Kawasaki pulls back the curtain on what it really took for Ilana to leap across careers, break barriers, and build a system that helps thousands do the same. She breaks down the concept of reinvention and what it really takes to leap again and again. Ilana Golan is a former F-16 flight instructor turned Silicon Valley tech executive and investor. As the founder of Leap Academy and host of the LEAP Academy podcast, she teaches professionals how to fast-track opportunities, build portfolio careers, and unlock financial freedom. In this episode, Guy and Ilana will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:20) Breaking Barriers in the Israeli Air Force (06:07) What Reinvention Really Means Today (10:40) The Core Steps to Reinventing Your Career (12:59) Reinventing When Systems are Against You (15:16) Advice for Women on Breaking Glass Ceilings (19:58) The Core Signals That You Need Reinvention (21:52) Case Studies: Reinventing Public Figures (29:37) The Role of Timing in Reinvention (33:41) The Power of Building a Personal Brand Ilana Golan is a serial entrepreneur, board director, global keynote speaker, and investor in over 100 companies. As the founder of Leap Academy and host of the LEAP Academy podcast, she teaches professionals how to fast-track opportunities, build portfolio careers, and unlock financial freedom. Ilana has been recognized as a Silicon Valley Woman of Influence, a Top 40 Woman to Watch, and a CEO World Award winner. Under her leadership, LEAP Academy was named one of Inc. 500’s Fastest Growing Companies. Connect with Ilana: Ilana’s Website: leapacademy.com Ilana’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan Resources Mentioned: Guy’s Podcast, Remarkable People: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasakis-remarkable-people/id1483081827 LEAP E97 with Guy Kawasaki: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/guy-kawasaki-the-tech-evangelist-who-built-apple/id1701718200?i=1000703853865 Leap Academy: LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

When Vick Tipnes launched Blackstone Medical Services, it was the worst possible moment: newly divorced, broke, and with two young kids. For years, he operated in survival mode, managing a business that lost money month after month. Instead of giving up, Vick's resilience became the driving force that turned a tiny, run-down $500 office into one of the fastest-growing sleep testing companies in the U.S. In this episode, Vick opens up to Ilana about the sacrifices, powerful mindset shifts, and relentless drive that transformed his company from the brink of collapse to industry leadership. Vick Tipnes is the founder and CEO of Blackstone Medical Services, a leading provider of home sleep testing. Under his leadership, the company has earned recognition five times on the Inc. 5000 list. In this episode, Ilana and Vick will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:03) Growing Up with an Entrepreneurial Father (04:35) Leaving College To Chase Entrepreneurship (06:32) Losing Both Parents and Transitioning to Healthcare (10:45) Exiting the Radiology Business with Almost Nothing (15:34) Being Divorced, Broke, and Starting All Over (19:30) Building Blackstone Medical Services from Scratch (23:27) Achieving Success After Years of Losing Money (31:27) How Vick Manages His Career Without Burning Out (33:07) Investing in Identity and Personal Growth (36:06) Addressing Sleep Issues and Health Solutions (38:18) The Power of Tenacity and Refusing To Quit Vick Tipnes is a self-made entrepreneur, author, and mentor, best known as the founder and CEO of Blackstone Medical Services, a leading provider of home sleep testing. Under his leadership, the company has earned recognition five times on the Inc. 5000 list. Vick is also the founder of Tipnes Capital and Tipnes Health and the author of Did You Sell Your Soul?, where he shares insights on overcoming obstacles, staying focused, and achieving life goals. Connect with Vick: Vick’s Website: vicktipnes.com Vick’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/vicktipnes Vick’s Instagram: instagram.com/vicktipnes Resources Mentioned: Vick’s Book, Did You Sell Your Soul?: It's Never Too Late to Change Your Story: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1662903766 Leap Academy:LeapCon is the #1 Conference for Reinvention, Leadership & Career — a powerful 3‑day experience designed to help you unlock what’s next in your career and life. 📍 San Jose, CA 📅 Feb 26–28, 2025 If you’re ready to step into clarity, confidence, and bold action, this is your moment. 👉 Grab your ticket before doors close at leapacademy.com/leapcon Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek

John Demsey didn’t become a powerhouse in the beauty industry by a mere stroke of luck; he built that influence on retail floors, taking on scrappy roles while learning the business in ways no MBA could ever teach. This helped him scale MAC Cosmetics into a global cultural movement, shape some of the most iconic beauty brands of our time, and ultimately rise to Group President of Estée Lauder Companies. In this episode, John joins Ilana to reveal how to build a career from the ground up, reinvent after setbacks, and lead with the kind of creativity that transforms industries. John D. Demsey is the former Executive Group President of Estée Lauder Companies, where he helped build and scale iconic brands like MAC Cosmetics, Tom Ford Beauty, and more into a multi-billion-dollar global powerhouse. In this episode, Ilana and John will discuss: (00:00) Introduction (02:38) His Early Exposure to Fashion and Design (06:36) Choosing Stanford Over the Ivy Leagues (09:26) Getting Started in the Beauty Industry (15:35) The Power of Learning Every Role in the Business (24:11) Joining Estee Lauder and Moving to LA (28:42) Building MAC Cosmetics into a Global Powerhouse (36:02) How John Landed Celebrity Endorsements (42:56) Working with Tom Ford and Revolutionizing Fragrances (52:58) Navigating Controversy and Reinventing Himself (1:01:17) His New Ventures and Future Plans John D. Demsey is the former Executive Group President of Estée Lauder Companies, where he helped build and scale iconic brands like MAC Cosmetics, Tom Ford Beauty, Smashbox, Clinique, and Jo Malone London. Over his 30-year career at Estée Lauder, he played a pivotal role in expanding the company into a multi-billion-dollar business across both established and emerging markets. He is the author of Behind the Blue Door, a visual memoir capturing his bold lifestyle, vibrant career, and personal journey. Connect with John: John’s Instagram: instagram.com/jdemsey John’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-demsey Resources Mentioned: John’s Book, Behind the Blue Door: A Maximalist Mantra: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0865654344 LEAP E57 with Dan Ariely: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/surviving-lies-rumors-and-digital-hate-dan-arielys/id1701718200?i=1000678512628 Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities. Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training Get your FREE training here! Leap Academy helps professionals reinvent their careers, build portfolio careers, land board seats, and grow executive leadership skills through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies. Founded by Ilana Golan, it's where bold professionals come to grow. 🧠 Start with a free strategy call with Ilana. 🎓 Watch the free masterclass on building multiple income streams. 👇 Like what you hear? Comment below and let us know what resonated! --------------- 🎧 PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with leaders and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income on your terms. ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/podcast --------------- 📲 Connect with Ilana: Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/IlanaGolanLeapAcademy LinkedIn ▶️ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilanagolan/ Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/ilanagolanleap Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/ 🧠 Produced by APodcastGeek: https://itl.ink/APodcastGeek